LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: The key stats you need to know for NBA GOATs in USA Olympics basketball

Gilbert McGregor

LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: The key stats you need to know for NBA GOATs in USA Olympics basketball image

As the U.S. men's national team seeks its fifth consecutive gold medal, one player who was a part of the team that started the streak in 2008 will be present on the roster.

LeBron James, who debuted on the Olympics stage 20 years ago, is back in search of his third Olympic gold medal in what could be his final time suiting up for the red, white, and blue. If James were to win a third gold medal, it would break a tie with Michael Jordan, who won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Olympics.

Much like their respective NBA careers, the Olympic journeys of James and Jordan are very different.

While James made his debut after his rookie season, he was just 19. Jordan, who made his Olympic debut ahead of his rookie season, did so at 21 years old and at a time when NBA players could not play for Team USA. After that ruling that was overturned in 1992, Jordan returned to play for the Dream Team, one of the most impactful teams in basketball history.

With James making his fourth Olympic appearance, there's no better time to see how his international accolades measure up to Jordan's.

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LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Olympics stats

James' scoring numbers take a hit because of his paltry averages during the 2004 games. Jordan was a dominant scorer in 1984 and 1992 while James' scoring came along in his last two Olympic appearances.

Per game averages

 JamesJordan
PPG11.416.0
RPG4.02.7
APG3.73.4
SPG1.52.8
BPG0.40.3
TO/G1.42.0
MPG20.422.3
FG%60.149.8
3P%37.921.1
FT%59.568.2

Total stats

 JamesJordan
Games2416
Points273256
Rebounds9543
Assists8854
Steals3645
Blocks104
Turnovers3432
Minutes489357
FG-FGA113-188111-223
3P-3PA22-584-19
FT-FTA25-4230-44

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Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Olympics medals, records

Team USA's 5-3 mark at the 2004 Olympics is the biggest stain on LeBron's Olympic resume. He has not lost at the Olympics since. Jordan never lost a game in the Olympics and also has the edge for best scoring performance.

It's worth noting that James' Olympic career high in rebounding and assists came in the same game. He turned in an 11-point, 14-rebound, 12-assist triple-double in a win over Australia in 2012.

 JamesJordan
Gold medals22
W-L21-316-0
High points2024
High rebounds144
High assists1212

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.